Japan-born and Thailand-bred actor Shogo Tanikawa is returning to Makhampom Studio to perform in Aa Theatre Group's comedy "Pattaya", the follow-up to "A Christmas Story", in which he appeared three months ago.

Yutitham, an eccentric police inspector who's having a major problem with his stomach, and his no-nonsense assistant Captain Ae, who speaks seven languages, are welcoming to their Pattaya police station Captain Joe, a neatly dressed hotshot detective from the Crime Suppression Department.

Joe falls in love with Ae instantly despite Yutitham's resistance but, hold on, that's not the major point of the play. In fact, their mission is to interrogate a murder suspect, a young Thai-Japanese man named Tochi, who was earlier found sobbing on the beach after the death of his woman friend Kaewta.

Opening night success

On opening night last Thursday, the audience laughed at the absurdity, frequently humorous situations and dialogue.

This commendable success was probably due to a script that effectively balances entertainment and essence, as well as the fact that the four professional actors have worked together before and form a tight ensemble here.

Most praiseworthy is Kusuma Thepparak, a theatre professor at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, whose transformation from Captain Ae to Kaewta is stunning.

By Pawit Mahasarinand

Special to Daily Xpress